Grulla High's Hector Villarreal Named First Team All-State Player

Grulla High School’s Hector “Tiger” Villarreal has been selected as Class 32-3A All-State High School Football Player.  Villarreal is currently a senior who has recently concluded his remarkable football career at Grulla High School.    During this season, Hector’s defensive statistics were simply implausible!  Standing at 5’8 and weighing 140 lbs., Villarreal led the Gators with 135 tackles, 95 solo tackles, 8 interceptions (one for a touchdown), 6 Quarterback sacks, 6 forced fumbles, and 3 recovered fumbles.  His remarkable performance assisted the Gators to a heaping 7-4 record and the program’s first playoff appearance.  Along with partaking in the remarkable Gator first ever playoff appearance, Hector was named District 32-3A Defensive Player of the Year.  He was also a 1st Team All-District selection as a junior in 2010.  Villarreal is not only an outstanding team player; he is also a dedicated and committed student who is self-disciplined and driven.  Hector aspires to graduate in May and pursue his post-secondary education at Lindenwood University.  We would like to congratulate Hector and his Football Coach Abel Gonzalez III for an awesome football season!  Go Gators Go!

Grulla Coach Abel Gonzalez III Named All-Valley Coach of the Year

Grulla High School’s Head Football Coach Abel Gonzalez III has always possessed the passion for football.  He is also no stranger to accolades.  He is a 1999 graduate from Rio Grande City High School where he was named All Valley Offensive Player of the Year after quarterbacking the RGC Rattlers to a 7-6 mark including a third-round 5A playoff run.  He went on to attend Texas A & M Kingsville where he also set several passing marks.  Surpassing minimal expectations and seeking higher aspirations, Gonzalez played for the RGV Dorados arena league team before pursuing his lifelong goal-coaching and molding young players.  He began his coaching career in the PSJA School District in 2004 before heading down west to his hometown of Rio Grande City and taking on a coaching position as the offensive coordinator at his alma mater, Rio Grande City High School in 2006.  With the opening of a new high school in the R.G.C.C.I.S.D., it was only befitting to designate Gonzalez as the head football coach at the newly established Grulla High School in 2010.

RGC FFA Volunteer at Relay For Life Event

The Rio Grande City FFA members and RGC FFA parents under the supervision of Mrs. Randy Lee Martin volunteered their time for the Annual Relay for Life sponsored by the American Cancer Society held at the Joe R. Sanchez stadium. The Relay for Life helps to raise awareness and funds to find a cure for breast cancer. Picture from Left to Right Standing Araceli Lopez, Mario Medrano, Devin Saenz, Billy Ryan Melton, Dario Leal, Eli Lopez, Mrs. Randy Martin, Justin Cody Salinas, Beto Garza Jr., Jason Gorena, Garrett Gonzalez, Jimmy Garza, Cody Lee Lara. Kneeling from Left to Right Nemisis Reyes, Cory McKee, Sarah Salmon, Dayna Gonzalez, Holly Garcia, Hilary Garcia, Amberly Solis, and Gloria Vargas.

RGC High Students Observe Red Ribbon Week

"Rio Grande City High School hosted a Grand Student assembly to kick off National Red Ribbon Week Campaign in October.  The student body was addressed by our Honorable County Judge, Eloy Vera, who gave an excellent first-hand account of the dangers and risks involving substance abuse and living on the Texas border.  He told a vivid story of growing up in South Texas with the same pressures and risks of falling prey to drugs and drug dealing, yet chose education as a key to success.  He motivated the students to be the next leaders of tomorrow and to be confident that eduction would pave their way to long-term success in life.  Other events followed throughout the week to promote healthy-living, such as law enforcement presentations, educational videos, lunch with Mr. Ciggy and a parade & bonfire.  All efforts were coordinated by Counselor, Jessica Vera-Rios, LPC and events were carried out by Kids Against Drugs (KADs).  A special thanks goes out to Judge Eloy Vera, USBP, Tri-County CSCD, Sheriff's office, RGCPD, BRBHC, STCADA, DEA, RGCCISD PD, J.P. Pinky Cruz, Baldemar Garza and Chuy Alvarez. Together, we are making a difference! " Persons in Picture from left to right: Mr. Adolfo Pena, Principal; Jessica Vera-Rios, LPC, Edgar Luna, Judge Eloy Vera, Justin Guerra, Gisi Avila, Kendra Saenz and Jasmine Pruneda. (kneeling):Rios and Erika Serna.

Local College Honored for Increasing Graduation Rate

During the fall 2011 semester, South Texas College was one of only four community colleges from across the state to receive special recognition from the Texas Association of Business. The award was presented in Austin to applaud the college's efforts to increase its graduation rate, as well as help students progress through the higher education system in a timely manner.

“We hear a lot about the colleges that aren’t pushing students to succeed, pushing them to get a degree,” said Texas Association of Business President and CEO Bill Hammond. “STC is one of four community colleges that are getting it right. Each of the honorees has shown significant improvement in the number of students completing degree plans and improvements in student achievement.”

STC was honored in the very large community college category, along with Howard Community College in the small category, Paris Junior College in the medium category, and Blinn College in the large category. TAB asked The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board to use its outcome-based model, called Momentum Points, to measure the relative improvement of all community colleges on metrics such as developmental education completion, transfers, credit accumulation and certificate and degree completion between fiscal years 2007 and 2010. These are areas TAB believes are critical for producing better results. Based on these measures, STC stood out from its peers in the state.

VMS Students Produce Math Themed Video

VETERANS  MIDDLE  SCHOOL -  Several Veterans Middle School 7th graders from Mrs. Christina M. Chapa’s Math class are participating in the Math Counts “Reel Math Challenge”.  These students created and starred in their own math video. This free online competition encourages student innovation. The 7th graders from VMS worked on this video project for two months before submitting it for competition.  In order for VMS to go to the next round, their video must be viewed, voted for, and ranked in the top 20 most popular videos.  Our community can support the VMS Reel Math Challenge Video by going to http://video.reelmath.org/home.aspx and look for the VMS Math video under the tab “New Videos” or search by problem 26.  On the right side of the video, click on the “like” button.  Voting ends on February 1, 2012 and you can vote once a day. Please support our students! Pictured above are 7th Grade Math students who created this video: Gabby Pena, Alexa Posas, Kiara Benavidez, and Dayla Trillayes.

Guillen Encourages Holiday Fireworks Safety

AUSTIN — With the holiday season in full swing, State Representative Ryan Guillen (D-Starr County) today reminded South Texans of the importance of fireworks safety during this time of year. Lighting fireworks can be a fun activity for families and friends to take part in during the winter holidays, but with that fun comes responsibility and necessary safety precautions.

"The National Council on Fireworks Safety states that you should only buy consumer fireworks from a licensed store or stand and never buy fireworks from an individual’s house or from someone on the street," said Rep. Guillen. "Also, it's crucial that all firework activities be done under close adult supervision in safe areas away from dry grass and buildings."

You can help ensure a safe holiday fireworks experience for you, your family, and neighbors this year by following these tips:

• Never experiment with homemade or altered fireworks.
• Always use fireworks outdoors.
• Keep a bucket of water, wet towels and a garden hose nearby.
• Light one firework at a time and then move back quickly after lighting it.
• Never shoot fireworks from metal or glass containers.
• Never carry fireworks in your pocket.
• Never point or throw fireworks at people or animals.

VMS Holds Successful Toy Drive

VETERANS  MIDDLE  SCHOOL – Students at Veterans Middle School donated over 1000 toys for the annual Toy for Rio Kids Drive that was sponsored by the Rio Grande City Police Department.  Student Council members and sponsors from VMS spearheaded this charitable service project so that needy children from our community could have a new toy on Christmas morning.  Pictured above are some of the VMS Student Council members, Mrs. Maricela O. Garcia (VMS Principal), Ms. San Juanita Olivarez (Student Council Sponsor) and officers from the RGC Police Department.